The Delhi Premier League 2024 was a high-scoring, fast-paced tournament that delivered plenty of drama. But beyond the boundaries and big moments, the most revealing story came from the numbers, specifically how teams scored across the three phases of the innings: Powerplay, Middle overs, and Death overs.
As the 2025 season begins, there is great value in revisiting those numbers to understand what truly separated the best from the rest.
Powerplay – Not the Deciding Factor Anymore
It might come as a surprise, but the Powerplay was not a clear differentiator in 2024. The difference between the second and third-best teams in this phase was just two runs. Even the teams at the bottom of the table averaged above 55 in the first six overs, which is solid in any T20 context.
In short, most teams have figured out how to get off to a good start. The opening burst is no longer where matches are won. It sets a platform, but it does not guarantee success.
Middle and Death Overs – Where Games Were Won
The real divergence began after the Powerplay. The middle overs saw a wide gap: the highest-scoring team averaged 87 runs while the lowest was at 61. A 26-run difference in this phase alone often meant the chasing team was either well ahead or well behind.
The death overs showed a similar story, with a 22-run swing between the top and bottom sides. That’s nearly four extra boundaries at the end, a margin that can completely flip a game.
This is where South Delhi and East Delhi, the two finalists, stood out.
South Delhi, who finished runners-up, were the only side to cross 70 in the Powerplay and still carry that momentum into the middle overs with 86 runs. They also finished strong, averaging 50 at the death , the best among all teams. Their scoring graph was steep and consistent across the innings, making them hard to stop once they got going.
East Delhi, the champions, were even more clinical in the middle overs, averaging 87, the highest of the tournament. They were slightly behind in the Powerplay but made up for it with smart acceleration through the middle and strong finishing. Their ability to build through overs 7 to 20 without losing momentum was key to their title run.
What this means heading into the latest season…
With the 2025 season having just started, these patterns should not be ignored.
- A quick Powerplay is useful, but it will not win you games by itself
- Teams that will score at the highest rate in the middle and death overs have the best chance of making the finals.
With 2 new teams entering this year ( New Delhi and Outer Delhi ), the new season would do well to follow the South and East Delhi template.
Last year showed us that consistency across all phases is what separates contenders from champions. If 2024 was about laying the foundation, 2025 will be about who evolves faster.
Leave a Reply